‘Poverty in Maine’ subject of UMF talk by former USDA official Kevin Concannon on Oct. 17

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Kevin Concannon, former undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Affairs

FARMINGTON – Kevin Concannon, former undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Affairs, will present a public lecture on “Poverty in Maine: Missed Federal Opportunities to Address the Problem” at the University of Maine at Farmington.

This free and open-to-the-public talk will take place at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 17, on the second floor mezzanine in UMF Mantor Library.

According to the Portland Press Herald, the U.S. Census has determined that 166,000 Mainers live on incomes below the poverty line, and of them, 43,000 are children. About half of those children are in “deep poverty,” living in a family with an income that’s half the official poverty line of $20,000 a year for a family of three.

While the private sector has the major influence on Maine’s economy , state government policies and program initiatives also have significant effects, and particularly so for the more vulnerable populations and geographic areas of Maine.

Concannon will cite examples of lost opportunities in recent years , up to the present , where Maine state government policy and practices knowingly failed to avail its citizens of significant Federal financial assistance and programs that would have contributed to the Maine economy and would have mitigated some of the circumstances of Maine people and local institutions.

Concannon has had a lengthy and distinguished career in public service. He was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2009 as USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. His principal responsibilities included oversight and funding authority for Food and Nutrition Services. Working in partnership with state and local organizations, the FNS promotes good nutrition and a healthy diet and serves one in four Americans.

He has served as director of State Health and Human Services departments for Maine, Oregon and Iowa where he championed expanded services, improved access and affordable health care. He has served a number of national organizations, including serving as president of the American Public Welfare Association and the National Association of State Mental Health Program.

A native of Portland, Maine, Concannon has received a number of awards, including the Lifetime Human Services Award from the American Public Human Services Association in 2007, the 2012 Catholic Charities USA Keep the Dream Alive Award and the 2012 National WIC Leadership Award.

This event is sponsored by the UMF Division of Social Science and Business.

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8 Comments

  1. No offense, but sounds like propaganda to me. I would want this gentleman to give his opinion on what is known as the ‘At Will’ Work Doctrine, a Federal piece of legislation that actively undermines Maines most vulnerable citizens from obtaining and holding employment. Also, why is Maine one of only four States, which is not a candidate for public policy changes to that Federal legislation.

    I think alot of people would want to know, why politicians are pushing more ‘free’ money, instead of the means for people to provide for themselves; let alone pay it forward. Maybe he would like to comment on the extent of corporate welfare, that still exists today.

    Same as the very likely pensions he holds himself, from his previous higher-up positions with those Non-Profits (who should also be paying taxes [i.e. Super PACS too]).

  2. Perhaps Mr. Concannon isn’t aware of the many naysayers around here. There’s no mystery concerning the “examples of lost opportunities in recent years , up to the present , where Maine state government policy and practices knowingly failed to avail its citizens of significant Federal financial assistance and programs that would have contributed to the Maine economy and would have mitigated some of the circumstances of Maine people and local institutions.”

  3. Marie, “federal financial assistance and programs”, speaks nothing for creating job opportunity based primarily on disability. Other than to remind people of the very exact point I previously made here. Even the Career Vocational program openly tells disabled individuals that they have no recourse for keeping their employment; if the individual is ever allowed to work, in the first place..

    ..or we can just focus on the term ‘significant’. Since, if this Country embraces a value system that let’s the less fortunate just slip through the cracks, then we heavily lack in being proactive; so that the working class can continue to subsidize the tax breaks for the wealthy.

    That speaks for the reality of both parties, who they both really work for, and government as we know it today. Sorry, Marie, but your response fell “significantly” short.

  4. Thirty-one states and Washington, D.C., have expanded Medicaid. Maine doesn’t; seems pretty significant to me.

  5. Nov. 2016: “Arizona is one of 31 states that expanded Medicaid, many of them run by Democrats. Republicans have blocked expansion in the remaining 19 states.

    Among the GOP-led states that expanded Medicaid, many officials are like Brewer (R-AZ), strong proponents of the program that has brought insurance to about 9 million low-income Americans who can’t possibly afford to buy it themselves. Before the expansion, those people had little access to regular health care, and when they got sick, hospitals were forced to treat them without compensation.

    States that strongly oppose Medicaid expansion, however, continue to do so.”
    https://www.apnews.com/30d088a6b0614c8ebd900d853fb8b07a

  6. ..and if people had better job security, instead of CEO’s of some of the largest job exporters being at the helm of the labor department, let alone the same business’ that lobby for laws in their favor, then those very same citizens could pay for their own medical insurance; instead of having others cover their costs, while those who take better care of themselves are penalized for such.

    Again, ‘free’ money, or services, always has cost associated with it. Something the Democratic party ignores, in their false promises, while they give the same tip of the cap to business, that the Republican mindset so openly does as well. Stop those tax breaks, stop the revolving door system, allow everyone to work; that simple.

    Sorry, not sorry, Marie.

  7. Also, Marie, it is a lot easier to control any large populace, when they are divided on issues. So, if you work in Government yourself, you do not live on Medicare or Medicaid. Same as the rest of the ‘representation’ in this Country. So, enjoy living comfortably yourself, as those in such position openly do; and Mr Concannon too, while your political system exploits the truly impoverished people of the Nation. Just to line your own pockets.

  8. You also completely ignore my point to be made, Marie, about fighting for people to have better rights to work. Which also proves how those in Government are just there to push partisan agendas, whIle business continues to solicite this process for it’s own benefit. Mr Concannon himself lives off of tax payer funded pensions, both from government and the so-called Non-Profits he has held past positions at. Therefore, he pays very little, if at all, back into the very process he wishes to sell to all the poor people beneath him. It sounds like you fully support that dependancy, and surely for your own benefit too.

    That money does not come from thin air, and more and more tax revenues are diverted everyday. It is long overdue, to start taxing the rich; churches, Non-Profits (including your beloved Super PACs)… Everyone.

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